2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ Review

MPG-o-Matic 2014 Chevrolet Impala Review Summary:Once upon a time, the Chevy Impala was the car to own. As the top of the line Chevrolet, it was the working man’s luxury car, and it carried many a family in comfort and style. Ah, but that was long ago. Recent Impalas have been largely regarded as fleet vehicles, never considered for most families new car shopping lists. Chevrolet’s designers set out to right the wrongs with the new tenth generation Impala, with the hope of recapturing a big chunk of the large lux sedan consumer market. While some folks may scoff at the idea of cross-shopping a 2014 Impala against a Lexus or other import, a test drive will open many eyes.

The 2014 Impala is available with three engine configurations. A 3.6-liter V6 is the top-of-the-line choice, with 305 horsepower (HP) and 264 foot-pounds of torque. Fuel economy minded folks will be drawn to the 2.4-liter eAssist inline four (182 HP and 172 foot-pounds of torque). The base engine is a conventional 2.5-liter inline four (195 HP and 187 foot-pounds of torque). The front-wheel-drive (FWD) Impala is only available with a six-speed automatic transmission.

We tested a top-of-the-line Crystal Red Tintcoat Impala 2LTZ V6, which carries an official EPA fuel economy estimate of 18 city, 28 highway, 21 combined. We landed a combined average of 25.2 miles per gallon in over 800 miles of testing. The 3.6-liter engine is FlexFuel-capable and can run on unleaded regular gasoline blends up to E85.

The Ecotec 2.5L I-4 is officially rated at 21 city / 31 highway. GM estimates that the 2.4-liter eAssist will be rated (approximately) 25 / 35.

The Driver Information Center’s color LCD screen is located between the speedometer and tachometer. It it includes a pair of Trip Meters with Average MPGs and an Instant MPG display, along with tire pressure, engine temperatures, and fuel range.

The V6 is no slouch in the 0-60 MPH sprint. While Chevrolet says it’ll cover the distance in 6.8 seconds, it feels faster. Impala pilots must endure a thumb-button shifter for manual shifts, as neither paddle shifters or a slapstick are offered.

Ready for that Great American Road Trip? The Impala is wonderfully smooth on the highway and the gas tank’s 18.5 gallon fuel capacity provides a generous cruising range.

Make no mistake about it. The Impala is all about comfort …

The cabin invites you to settle in and stay a while, with enough room for the whole family (of five). The LTZ’s driver and front passenger buckets have four-way power lumbar, three-level seat heating and optional ventilation. The back seat provides plenty of space to stretch out, with 39.8 inches of legroom, 54.1 inches of hip room, 56.9 inches of shoulder room, and 37.4 inches of head room. The trunk allows for 18.8 cubic feet of cargo area and the split rear seat folds down to accommodate longer items.

The optional MyLink infotainment system includes weather info and Pandora support. The LTZ Premium Audio Package includes an eleven-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound System and a 120 volt outlet at the back of the rear console. There are twelve-volt power outlets at the back of the console, in a compartment at the base of the dash, and inside the center console, where you’ll also find an audio input, two USB inputs, and a card slot. A third USB input is located in the super cool hidden compartment located behind the LCD screen.

All-in-all, the 2014 Impala marks the return of an American icon. While the first generations of the Impala are among the most beloved big sedans to roll out of a Big Three factory, Chevrolet lost its lux-o-barge mojo along the way. This tenth-generation Impala proves that classic design cues, efficiency, and aerodynamics can happily coexist.

The introduction of a diesel engine in the 2014 Cruze opens the door for Chevrolet to offer a diesel in the Impala down the road. Given the numbers we’ve experienced first hand in the Cruze Diesel, a 40 MPG Impala Diesel is well within reason. The Impala’s dimensions would easily accommodate a generously sized diesel emissions fluid (DEF) tank, without foregoing a spare tire (as in the Cruze Diesel).

4 comments ↓

I feel Chevrolet nailed it with this vehicle, well sculptured, plenty of room inside and good mpg.
That said, it’s a good thing it weighs almost 2 tons as the strong V6 could have overtaxed the FWD otherwise. AWD would definitely be a asset in putting the power to the ground while enhancing handling.

I checked one out at the dealer, it was loaded and just a few bucks shy of 40K. There’s considerable competition in this price bracket, It will be interesting to see how it fares.

Personally, I’m thinking Impala Touring ECO; AWD, a 8 cylinder version of the 3.6 V6 and a 8 speed auto. LRR tires, grille shutters and a suspension that lowers while on the highway.

Nice writeup- but once again you forgot to mention that the 3.6 liter Impala is flex-fuel capable. Those of us that live in Michigan and don’t buy gasoline appreciate the flex-fuel capability. the 2.4 and 2.5 liter versions are NOT certified for flex-fuel, but the 3.6 liter V6 is.

Please try to provide ethanol E85 MPG’s- or 50/50 mix MPG’s when you can- as that information is helpful. Thanks.

Many thanks for the feedback, Jim and apologies for the oversight! General Motors seems to be downplaying FlexFuel these days. I’ll add a mention to the written review.

While I would like to provide real world E85 fuel economy results, it’s not in the cards at the moment. I do not have the time or resources (a.k.a.: cold hard cash) to do additional E85 tank fills, unfortunately. If we could find an organization to fund the effort, I’d consider taking on the challenge. 50/50 blends would be an interesting test. I’ve read that E30 might be the sweet spot.

Last time I checked, there were just two places to buy E85 here in New Jersey: at Newark Airport or down in the Pinelands at Mighty Joe’s – both of which are an hour or so drive from Rancho Indebto.